HELENA — The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) reports that in 2020, 16% of fatalities involved drivers 65 and older, who make up 23% of registered drivers in Montana.
AARP hosts driver safety classes regularly to help seniors prepare and practice for aging factors that could impact their time on the road.
"I find personally that every time I have a class, I drive away a smarter and safer driver and I hope the students feel that too," instructor Ray Paige says.
The class is just over four hours long and is open to all ages, while participants aged 55 and older are eligible for multi-year auto insurance premium discounts.
The most popular sections with the students are traffic signals, traffic signs, and what to do in the case of breaking down.
The course includes discussing vision and hearing challenges and how to keep your independence behind the wheel.
“The goal of the class is to make senior drivers aware of the changes that have occurred over their lifetime and recently, regarding health issues and automobiles," AARP driver safety class district coordinator Carl Peil says. "The hope of this is to make them safer drivers and to be less likely to be involved in a motor vehicle crash.”
